Big corporate bankruptcy news today that has a direct impact on the Upper West Side: Syms, and its subsidiary Filene’s Basement, have announced they plan to close all 46 of their stores.

This of course means there will be a massive vacancy on the east side of Broadway, between 79th & 80th, where a Syms/Filene’s combo store takes up most of the block.

They’re hoping to begin the liquidation process as soon as possible and start conducting sales before Black Friday. The liquidation is expected to last through January, at which point the stores will close.

Once the two stores close in January, the small Zales Jewelers that sits between them will be the only business remaining on that block. Zales Corporation has been dealing with its own financial problems in recent years and is frequently rumored to be on its last legs.

Across the street, the western stretch of Broadway between 79th & 80th is already a pretty depressing place. The northern end of the block is home to two vacant storefronts (formerly H&H and MagicSmile) that have become an unofficial gathering spot for some of the neighborhood’s homeless. The First Babtist Church on the southern end of the block seems to serve the same role. In between are a few unremarkable businesses including Oz Moving & Storage, a FedEx outpost, Canine Styles, and the new Maxiga store, which seems entirely out of place given the surroundings.